Psalm 29:7 kjv
The voice of the LORD divideth the flames of fire.
Psalm 29:7 nkjv
The voice of the LORD divides the flames of fire.
Psalm 29:7 niv
The voice of the LORD strikes with flashes of lightning.
Psalm 29:7 esv
The voice of the LORD flashes forth flames of fire.
Psalm 29:7 nlt
The voice of the LORD strikes
with bolts of lightning.
Psalm 29 7 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Exod 19:16-18 | On the morning of the third day there were thunders and lightnings... smoke went up... and the whole mountain trembled greatly. | God's voice accompanied by thunder, lightning, and fire at Sinai. |
| Exod 20:18 | When all the people saw the thunder and the flashes of lightning and the sound of the trumpet and the mountain smoking, the people trembled... | The people's fear witnessing God's powerful manifestation with fire and sound. |
| Deut 4:24 | For the LORD your God is a consuming fire, a jealous God. | God's nature directly equated with fire, emphasizing His holiness and power. |
| Deut 5:4-5 | The LORD spoke with you face to face at the mountain out of the midst of the fire... | God speaking from fire, a direct divine encounter. |
| Psa 18:8 | Smoke went up from his nostrils, and devouring fire from his mouth; glowing coals flamed forth from him. | God's presence described with smoke, fire, and glowing coals, akin to natural forces. |
| Psa 18:13 | The LORD also thundered in the heavens, and the Most High uttered his voice, hailstones and coals of fire. | God's voice (thunder) associated with fire and judgment from heaven. |
| Psa 97:3 | Fire goes before him and burns up his adversaries all around. | Fire as a precursor to God's presence, signifying judgment and destruction of foes. |
| Psa 104:4 | He makes his messengers winds, his ministers a flaming fire. | God's direct agency over natural elements, making wind and fire His servants. |
| Joel 2:30 | "And I will show wonders in the heavens and on the earth, blood and fire and columns of smoke." | Prophecy of divine judgment and manifestation involving fire. |
| Isa 30:27, 30 | Behold, the name of the LORD comes from afar... and His voice shall be heard... a devouring fire. | The powerful, consuming nature of God's voice equated with fire. |
| Ezek 1:4, 13 | As I looked, behold, a stormy wind came out of the north... with a bright light around it, and from the midst of it came something like gleaming metal, out of the midst of the fire. | Vision of God's glory enveloped in storm, light, and fire. |
| Dan 7:9-10 | A stream of fire issued and came forth from before him; a thousand thousands served him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him; the court sat in judgment, and the books were opened. | Vision of the Ancient of Days with fire, signifying divine judgment and power. |
| Hab 3:3-4 | God came... from Teman. His splendor covered the heavens... and rays flashed from his hand... | God's magnificent arrival accompanied by powerful rays/flashes from His being. |
| Heb 12:29 | For our God is a consuming fire. | New Testament reiteration of God's nature as fire, symbolizing holiness and judgment. |
| Rev 1:14 | His head and his hair were white... His eyes were like a flame of fire. | Vision of Christ's glorious appearance, with eyes signifying penetrating discernment and judgment. |
| Rev 4:5 | From the throne came flashes of lightning, rumblings and peals of thunder... before the throne burned seven torches of fire, which are the seven spirits of God. | God's throne characterized by lightning, thunder, and fire, representing His presence and Spirit. |
| Rev 11:5 | And if anyone would harm them, fire pours from their mouth and consumes their foes. | Fire emanating from prophets' mouths, reflecting the power of God's word to judge. |
| Jer 23:29 | "Is not my word like fire?" declares the LORD, "and like a hammer that breaks a rock in pieces?" | God's word described as fire, powerful and transformative. |
| Ps 106:18 | Fire blazed among their company; the flame consumed the wicked. | Fire as an agent of divine judgment against disobedience. |
| Num 16:35 | And fire came out from the LORD and consumed the 250 men offering the incense. | Direct display of God's consuming fire as judgment. |
| Ps 33:9 | For he spoke, and it came to be; he commanded, and it stood firm. | God's voice/word as the ultimate creative and maintaining force. |
| Isa 55:11 | So shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose. | The effectiveness and power of God's spoken word. |
Psalm 29 verses
Psalm 29 7 Meaning
Psalm 29:7 portrays the tremendous power and active presence of the Lord, likening His voice, which in this psalm is depicted as thunder, to the emission of blazing flames. This imagery emphasizes the sudden, impactful, and irresistible nature of God's word and presence, capable of both manifesting glory and executing judgment with destructive force. It asserts Yahweh's absolute control over natural phenomena and His ability to command fiery displays as extensions of His divine will.
Psalm 29 7 Context
Psalm 29 is a majestic psalm describing the thunderous voice of the Lord. The chapter depicts a dramatic thunderstorm originating in the sea and moving inland, sweeping through the wilderness, uprooting trees, and shaking mountains, demonstrating Yahweh's unparalleled sovereignty and power over creation. Each verse repeatedly declares "The voice of the LORD," emphasizing the auditory manifestation of God's overwhelming might. This psalm stands as a powerful polemic against the polytheistic storm deities of the ancient Near East, particularly Baal, whose cult claimed dominion over thunder, lightning, and rain. By attributing these very phenomena exclusively to the "Voice of the LORD," the psalm asserts Yahweh's singular supremacy and unparalleled glory, inviting all creation to ascribe strength and glory to Him. Verse 7 specifically links God's voice to destructive, manifesting fire, emphasizing the raw, uncontainable power associated with His divine presence, as displayed in the very storm phenomena claimed by false gods.
Psalm 29 7 Word analysis
- The voice: The Hebrew word is qōl (קֹול). While literally "voice" or "sound," in the context of Psalm 29, it unmistakably refers to the powerful, resonant sound of thunder. This "voice" is not just audible, but an active manifestation of divine presence and power, shaping and impacting creation. It embodies God's commanding authority and formidable strength, resonating through all existence.
- of the LORD: The Hebrew name for God here is YHVH (יהוה), the personal, covenantal name of God revealed to Moses. Using YHVH emphasizes that it is the one true, living God of Israel, not any pagan deity, who wields such supreme power over creation and demonstrates it through storm phenomena. It highlights His unique and intimate relationship with His people while showcasing His cosmic authority.
- flashes forth: The Hebrew verb is ḥōtsēv (חֹצֵב), meaning "to hew out," "to cut," "to cleave," or "to carve out." In this context, it vividly conveys a powerful, deliberate, and sudden emission. It’s not just "producing" or "sending," but actively and forcefully bringing forth. The voice hews out the flames, suggesting an inherent and direct connection between the divine utterance and the fiery manifestation, as if the very sound contains and releases the fire.
- flames of fire: This phrase uses two Hebrew words: lahāvōt (לַהֲבֹות), plural for "flames," and ēsh (אֵשׁ), "fire." The use of the plural "flames" alongside "fire" intensifies the imagery, suggesting multiple, distinct, and vigorous tongues of fire. It evokes imagery of searing intensity, purifying power, and destructive force, directly associating God's thunderous voice with lightning's visible, blazing power. Fire, in biblical contexts, frequently represents God’s holy presence, His judgments, and His power.
Words-Group Analysis:
- "The voice of the LORD flashes forth": This phrase underlines the dynamic and immediate connection between God's spoken word/thunder and its direct physical manifestation. It speaks of a power so immense that sound itself becomes an active, physical force that produces other elemental forces, reflecting God's absolute sovereignty and capacity to act directly in the created order.
- "flames of fire": This powerful metaphor directly equates the visual phenomenon of lightning (often a silent flash preceding thunder or striking simultaneously) with the divine voice. It demonstrates the tangible, awe-inspiring, and sometimes fearsome manifestation of God's power. It implies swift judgment, purifying intensity, and undeniable glory, emanating directly from His authoritative utterance.
Psalm 29 7 Bonus section
The concept of "flames of fire" emanating from God's presence or word echoes throughout Scripture, signifying various aspects of His character. It is often a visible manifestation of His glorious holiness (Exod 3:2; 19:18), a terrifying display of His judgment (Gen 19:24; Num 16:35), and a purifying agent (Mal 3:2). In the New Testament, this fiery imagery is applied to Christ (Rev 1:14; 2:18) and the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:3), underscoring the consistent nature of the Godhead's powerful and consuming presence. Thus, Psalm 29:7 not only describes a physical phenomenon but prophetically foreshadows how God's divine word and Spirit would continue to manifest with transforming and revelatory power.
Psalm 29 7 Commentary
Psalm 29:7 serves as a poignant expression of God's immense power and sovereign control over creation, particularly evident in the elemental forces of a storm. The depiction of "the voice of the LORD" (thunder) "flashing forth flames of fire" (lightning) presents a unified and immediate demonstration of divine might. This isn't a mere poetic flourish; it reflects the deep biblical truth that God's spoken word is intrinsically active and potent. Just as His word brought creation into existence (Gen 1:3; Ps 33:9), His voice here unleashes destructive yet magnificent natural phenomena. This imagery directly challenged contemporary pagan notions, where storm gods like Baal were worshipped for control over such forces; the psalmist proclaims Yahweh alone reigns supreme, his "voice" commanding the most spectacular and formidable elements of nature. It’s a call to ascribe "glory and strength" to the God whose word is creative, majestic, purifying, and capable of both revelation and judgment.